{"id":11619,"date":"2013-05-06T00:01:41","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T04:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=11619"},"modified":"2013-05-05T13:10:17","modified_gmt":"2013-05-05T17:10:17","slug":"girls-with-swords-chapter-7-forging-a-sword-pgs-105-106","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/05\/06\/girls-with-swords-chapter-7-forging-a-sword-pgs-105-106\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls with Swords: Chapter 7 \u2013 \u201cForging A Sword\u201d (pgs 105-106)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GCH!!!<\/h2>\n

Today is the first day of our week long Anniversary celebration!! \u00a0Want to enter our contest to win some fabulous prizes?? \u00a0All you have to do is read the blog below, and then leave a comment about it! \u00a0That’s it!!<\/p>\n

Today’s Prize:<\/strong> \u00a0A box of lovely goodies: \u00a0“21 Days – Your Journey to Enjoying Everyday Life” by Joyce Meyer, a Coffee Mug by Dayspring (also includes a Gift Card to Dunkin’ Donuts), a book by Wendy Anderson Halperin titled “Love Is”, and a couple of extra little goodies that we will surprise you with!!<\/p>\n

\"Anniversary<\/a><\/p>\n

Only ONE WINNER<\/strong> will be chosen EACH DAY FROM May 6th to May 10th. \u00a0DEADLINE FOR TODAY’S ENTRIES<\/strong>: \u00a0 8PM Central Time Zone.<\/strong> \u00a0Each day we will post a new prize!! \u00a0ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY, MAY 11th, ON OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY PAGE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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And now, onto today’s blog!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Click HERE for Chapter 7 Reading Assignment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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This week we begin learning what it takes to \u201cforge a sword.\u201d\u00a0 These are words that are not used often in our society.\u00a0 I had questions, so I did some research.\u00a0 The word forge<\/em> is a verb for a process, much like the word\u00a0mold<\/em> is.\u00a0 The dictionary defines these words for us:<\/p>\n


\n\"Forge_Mold.jpg\"<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We are familiar with molds<\/span> when we want to make uniform soaps, candles, and yes, CHOCOLATES.\u00a0 If you have attempted to make any of these items even once you will have learned some very important facts to make the end product the best it can be.\u00a0 The product has to be melted, or softened from its original form and poured into the mold<\/span> to obtain the desired shape and size.\u00a0 But that is not enough.\u00a0 The mold has to be shaken, dropped on a table, etc.,\u00a0to remove all air bubbles from the finished product.\u00a0 These bubbles can cause the product to crack, fall apart and ruin the end result.\u00a0 If you have done everything exactly right, you will end up with many, many identical soaps, candles, and yes, fewer chocolates.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

If you want to make soap, you melt and pour soap.\u00a0 If you want a candle, you<\/span> melt and pour wax.\u00a0 If you want chocolate – well, you get the picture.\u00a0 When you forge<\/span><\/span> something, you take separate metals, heat them to a molten liquid, burn off the impurities (anything that isn\u2019t metal) and prepare to meld them into your final product.\u00a0 This intense heat leaves a liquid virtually free of imperfections and no \u201cbubbles;\u201d the original metal is not changed from what it originally was, but is so much more useful now.\u00a0 According to my research, forged<\/span> products are 15% stronger than molded<\/span> products.<\/p>\n

By this time you are wondering what all this has to do with you, me, and our study.\u00a0 Did you know that the first mention of forging<\/span> was in Genesis 4?\u00a0 There was a man who forged<\/span> tools out of bronze and iron.\u00a0 The forge<\/span> was used since the beginning of time to make useful tools and God uses that same process to make us useful in His Kingdom.\u00a0 The prophet Isaiah uses this terminology and applies it to the Christian walk as God\u2019s plan for His people.\u00a0 Look at these verses in Isaiah 54<\/strong> and see what God revealed to him about the people of Israel and later for you and me:<\/p>\n

13 All your children will be taught by the Lord<\/b>, and great will be their peace<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

14 In righteousness you will be established<\/b>:\u00a0 Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.\u00a0 <\/i>Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.<\/span><\/p>\n

15\u00a0 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

16 \u201cSee, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame<\/b> and forges a weapon fit for its work<\/i>.\u00a0 And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc<\/b>;<\/span><\/p>\n

17\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. \u00a0<\/i><\/span>This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>declares the Lord.<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

God has placed a protective covering over his people.\u00a0 A holy promise to protect, restore and vindicate any wrong done against us.\u00a0 He has forged us to be strong and durable and fit for our work here on earth.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the work God wants to forge in our hearts:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThis is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,\u201d declares the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

I will be their God, and they will be my people.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, \u2018Know the Lord,\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

because<\/span> they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,\u201d declares the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Jeremiah 31:33 and 34<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremiah says that in the end, we will all know the Lord.\u00a0 Every one of us<\/i>.\u00a0 If we have made the commitment to follow Jesus, it\u2019s time to submit to the original Blacksmith and let Him forge<\/span> you into the character He needs you to be.<\/p>\n

Lisa says, “The process of making a sword is a whole lot like the process of making a life”<\/strong> (page 105).\u00a0 What kind of life do you want to be known for?\u00a0 I want to mix my life with God’s teaching and let Him make me what He needs me to be.\u00a0 How about you?<\/p>\n

These truths are what God brings to the mixture to be forged<\/span>.\u00a0 You and I have a choice to join Him and face the refining fire. Attacks are not fun.\u00a0 Pounding surely hurts and bruises.\u00a0 Fire is hot!\u00a0 Water is healing.\u00a0 Pressure makes us experienced and strong.\u00a0 Our finished product will be one strong, mighty warrior for the Kingdom of God.\u00a0 Prepare your heart for the truths coming at you this week.\u00a0 Do not be surprised if the fiery arrows increase.\u00a0 Smile\u2026<\/span>and purpose in your heart to become a stronger warrior and stand.\u00a0 God has promised the victorious ending.\u00a0 We get to watch it unfold around us.<\/p>\n

Our song to start the week is from the Crabb Family and the Gaither\u2019s:\u00a0 Through the Fire<\/em><\/p>\n